Valve has announced that it is allowing users to apply for the Steam for Linux beta.

Valve is specifically looking for experienced users that are familiar with Linux and are running Ubuntu 12.04 or above. This is likely because it's in the way early stages and needs a good debugging. Users that are newer to Linux are being asked to wait until the next beta release to apply.

There are only 1,000 spots available in the current registry, so those who fit the bill can sign up through their Steam accounts. Valve will follow up with users afterward.

Steam is a digital distribution, multiplayer and communications platform that distributes video games online from small developers to larger software companies.

games on Linux is the next to last frontier for me to adopt it as my primary desktop OS at home. Though steam has few games i like to play its still a huge step forward to let other developers know that its possible and their is demand for linux gaming.

I do work on other operating systems. Games are the only reason I keep Windows. That said, even with native ports of Valve's own games (which according to Valve runs slightly faster in Ubuntu than under Windows), I'd still be hard pressed to make a switch given just how many other games there are on Windows.

Either way, choices are good. OS X has turned into a viable alternative to Windows for gaming with all of the support that Valve and Blizzard have given it. One more platform to run games on is not a bad thing.

I spend about 80% of my game time playing DOTA 2 these days. Given how popular that game is and for how many people it is their only game, I can see some people or internet cafes skipping Windows license fees and just having dedicated DOTA 2 machines running Ubuntu. One more place to save money if it doesn't need to be spent, especially in China/Ukraine/Brazil where these kinds of games are so insanely popular.